There’s a world of technology hidden inside the deceptively simple surface of your pen. In this article, we’ll take a look at 5 innovative
pens and explain how they work. Click through to the patents for even more details and diagrams!

Graphology is the practice of analyzing handwriting to reveal certain personality traits in the writer. The way you organize your life, how you feel about yourself, what motivates you — these and more are revealed in your handwriting. A good friend can pick up all kinds of cues about your mood, simply by listening to your voice on the phone. In the same way, handwriting leaves visual cues (such as spacing, pressure, slant, and letter form) that indicate your mood and temperament.

To interpret your handwriting, first we need a writing sample. Take a moment to copy the first two sentences of this article in cursive, like this:

It’s best to use a ballpoint pen on unlined paper, though any pen with good flow will do. Onto the analysis!

Origins of Cursive

Cursive exists in many languages, including Greek, Russian, and Chinese, but this article will concentrate solely on English cursive, which is the practice of writing conjoined letters. Although it was originally used to increase writing speed, cursive is also valued for its aesthetic qualities.

Its exact origins are difficult to pinpoint, but it’s certain that English cursive existed in some form before 1066. By the 16th century it was quite popular, but tended to vary from person to person and defied standardization. When Thomas Jefferson committed the Declaration of Independence to paper, he joined most -- but not all -- of his letters. By the time Abraham Lincoln wrote the Gettysburg Address, cursive had developed into a more modern and recognizable form.

The original draft of the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson on July 4, 1776.

A draft of The Gettysburg Address written by Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863.

At any memorable life event, we many times want to keep record of the special people who came. Oftentimes this involves having a generic sign book where guests can sign their names. But with the thousands of different pen varieties at JetPens, you are free to dream up a more creative project.

A family member had the honor of attending a wedding last month that made use of a Pilot Hi-Tec-C Gel Ink Pen to create a gorgeous "tree" guest book.